SAFETY SUPERVISOR
A safety supervisor inspects workplaces and directs employees to ensure that people and property are kept safe at all times. He or she might work for food service organizations, manufacturing plants, hospitals, construction companies, or one of many other industries where health and safety are priorities. Many safety supervisors regularly visit facilities to enforce legal regulations and help establish more effective procedures. In order to work as a safety supervisor, an individual is usually required to possess strong problem-solving, writing, and verbal communication skills.
Attentive safety supervisors are essential members of construction crews and manufacturing plant workforces. Supervisors in industry and construction oversee the work performed by laborers to make sure they are following legal and company safety guidelines. A safety supervisor at a construction site also regularly inspects equipment, tools, and building materials to ensure quality and safety. Supervisors in manufacturing plants make sure that machinery is properly maintained and that workers wear appropriate safety gear, such as helmets and goggles, at all times.
Ensuring the health of employees and customers in food service facilities is the primary responsibility of a safety supervisor. Restaurants, cafeterias, and food processing plants frequently staff safety supervisors to oversee the preparation of food. Professionals work in kitchens, making sure that ingredients are properly stored to prevent contamination. They check freezers and refrigerators, as well as cooking pots and ovens to help prevent spoilage and potentially devastating outbreaks of bacteria.
Some safety supervisors work for government regulation agencies. Also called health and safety inspectors, government safety supervisors visit workplaces to evaluate working conditions. They tour facilities to inspect equipment and processes. A safety supervisor is authorized to issue warnings or fines when he or she discovers violations of safety codes, such as improper food storage or blocked fire exits. When violations are discovered, the supervisor explains problems to employees and managers and informs them how they can bring their establishment back up to code.
The requirements to become a safety supervisor vary between different locations, industries, and specific companies. Most workers hold at least bachelor’s degrees in occupational health and safety, industrial hygiene, or related fields. Many employers promote workers to the ranks of safety supervisor after they gain several years of experience in an industry and show strong leadership potential. Food safety supervisors are generally expected to complete detailed training programs that cover safe food handling and preparation strategies. Professionals who want to work for government organizations are often required to take certification exams that test their understanding of complex laws and procedures.
SAFETY OFFICER
A construction safety officer monitors residential, commercial and industrial construction sites for compliance with safety standards established by local and regional agencies to protect workers. She may also conduct training sessions to educate workers and supervisors on safe workplace procedures and ways to protect themselves and their environment from harm. Her job normally requires her to regularly visit all types of locations where buildings are being constructed or renovated. She may be employed by a construction company or by a local or regional governing agency.
His or Her educational and instructional topics vary according to the nature of the work being performed at the job sites. Common topics include keeping accurate incident records, methods to prevent accidents and how to train employees to implement safe practices into their daily work routines. Other subjects for discussion typically include safe equipment operation, ergonomics, safe lifting procedures and choosing appropriate protective gear and clothing.
In addition to lecturing on safety and inspecting the general appearance of construction sites for potential safety hazards, a construction safety officer normally examines tools, equipment and machinery at the sites. He or She is generally required to document and report to authorities any infractions she discovers and advise the person in charge of the site to correct the hazards. If the violation poses an immediate threat, she is commonly authorized to issue an order to cease work. Checking safety equipment such as fire extinguishers and alarms for current certifications is also a typical part of her job.
Reports to governing boards from the construction safety officer are generally required on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. In the interim, detailed records on work site conditions are regularly required. If violations persist, a hearing is customarily scheduled and the construction safety officer is often called upon to provide testimony regarding her observations, recommendations and actions. In the event of a serious accident or injury at a construction site, the officer is typically called upon to investigate the scene and report her findings to the appropriate authorities.
As part of the group of officers that monitor safety and health conditions in other workplace environments, a construction safety officer provides input at meetings and seminars designed to increase awareness and develop new approaches and solutions to increase safety. She often makes presentations to construction industry groups on safe construction site practices. If an expert opinion on construction site safety is required, the officer is
frequently called upon to provide input.
Applicants for this job are normally required to have a bachelor’s degree in human resources, industrial management or engineering, safety engineering or social sciences. Auxiliary training in industrial hygiene, ergonomic and industrial safety is desirable. Work experience in plant management or safety operations is a plus as well.
SAFETY INSPECTOR
A health and safety inspector is responsible for assessing workplaces with the goal of reducing the possibility of harm. Some work as active inspectors, evaluating workplaces and issuing reports, while others work as advisors, bringing their expertise to companies who wish to ensure that they are as healthy and safe as possible. Work in this field is expanding, especially in areas which are experiencing growth, which requires more health and safety inspectors to ensure that living conditions are safe and healthy.
In order to become a health and safety inspector, someone usually needs a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety or a related field. He or she must also be willing to participate in continuing education and training to keep up with developments in the field, and most health and safety inspectors also keep up with regulations and news in the field. If a health and safety inspector wants to work as an adviser, he or she may pursue additional certification in fields like workplace ergonomics.
When a health and safety inspector works as an inspector, it is usually in the capacity of a government agent. Most governments have strict laws which are designed to keep workplaces safe, and these laws are enforced by inspectors who conduct random site visits. When the health and safety inspector arrives, the workplace is inspected for compliance with things like the Health Code in the region, and warnings may be issued if there are violations.
In the capacity of a consultant, health and safety advisers enter a workplace and offer suggestions on how to make it safer, healthier, and more pleasant to work in. Some insurance companies actually require companies to use a health and safety inspector to reduce absenteeism and insurance claims for workplace-related injuries and health problems. Other businesses voluntarily seek out consultants because they want their employees to stay healthy.
In order to work in this field, someone must be prepared to travel, and to visit a wide assortment of places. A health and safety inspector may also be required to exercise the art of diplomacy, as some business owners become quite hostile when they are informed about safety violations. It also helps to know the relevant health and safety codes backwards and forwards, to ensure that specific citations can be provided for each warning of a violation.
SAFETY ENGINEER
A safety engineer designs new guidelines, equipment, and procedures to preserve the health and safety of industrial workers. He or she may be employed by a manufacturing plant, consulting firm, insurance company, or a government agency to monitor work activities and give expert advice on how to identify and improve dangerous conditions. A safety engineer needs to have a thorough understanding of mechanical engineering principles, health and safety laws, and business administration in order to perform the job. Most professionals are required to hold college degrees and gain licensure or certification in their specialty.
Working in a large manufacturing plant that utilizes heavy equipment can be loud, hectic, dirty, and dangerous. It is the responsibility of the safety engineer to minimize work hazards by identifying and remedying potential problems before they occur. A professional tours the facility and speaks with workers to analyze safety concerns. He or she makes notes about dangerous procedures or machines to later create a detailed report for management.
After creating a report, the safety engineer starts thinking of ways to fix problems and avoid accidents. He or she may revise equipment schematics and blueprints to correct design flaws or lead a training course to help employees learn safer practices. The engineer may decide to enact new workers’ health and quality-control guidelines, and schedule regular preventive maintenance rounds to ensure machines are kept in good condition.
A safety engineer may be employed full-time by a manufacturing plant to monitor activity or visit many locations as a consultant. Insurance companies staff safety engineers to provide business owners with advice on how to improve working conditions and lower their policy rates. Some skilled safety engineers are employed by regional and federal government agencies to perform regular walk-throughs of large facilities, ensuring they are in compliance with the law.
A bachelor’s degree in occupational health or engineering is required to find work as a safety engineer in most settings. Many government engineers hold master’s degrees or higher in industrial hygiene, and professionals who engage in the research and design of new machinery often have specialized training in mechanical engineering. Many regions and countries require safety engineers to pass licensing examinations before they can offer consulting services. Pursuing additional certification from a respected organization, such as the American Society of Safety Engineers in the United States, can be helpful in finding work.
New safety engineers typically begin their careers as assistants to experienced workers in order to become familiar with the job. Assistants learn how to compose reports and make official recommendations when necessary. New engineers begin working unsupervised after proving their abilities and showing dedication to the job.